Acute Otitis Externa is an infection of the outer ear caused by bacteria multiplying in the ear canal due to trapped water. It is prevalent during summer and warm climates when increased ear exposure to water is at a high.
Aside from bacteria and water, swimmer's ear can also be caused by skin conditions that may contribute to debris in the ear canal, trauma from aggressive ear cleaning, trauma from wearing hearing aids, sweating, allergies, and stress.
Symptoms of acute otitis externa are inflammation, itching, a feeling of fullness with or without hearing loss, and pain when tugging on the earlobe or chewing food. Analgesics and eardrops are commonly used to treat the condition. These usually include antiseptics, antibiotics, and corticosteroids. The most effective treatment for AOE is eardrops because of the high local concentration of drug in the ear canal.
Oral medication is not as effective because of drug resistance and low concentration achieved in the ear canal compared to a topical method such as eardrops. Avoiding water accumulation and moisture retention in the external ear canal, and maintaining a healthy skin barrier can prevent AOE.
The guideline was released to promote the use of analgesics and topical treatments and discourage oral therapy which is deemed ineffective and has adverse effects. The update also includes new and updated clinical trials, systematic reviews, and the participation experts in various fields.
